Eleven new cancer research studies at Lawson Health Research Institute are being supported with funding from London Health Sciences Centre’s (LHSC) 2023 London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP) Catalyst Grants. The grants will support translational cancer research projects with the potential to attract external funding and lead to clinical applications for cancer treatment.
“Our panel was incredibly impressed by the calibre and innovation of the applications we received this year,” says Dr. Gabriel DiMattia, Director, Cancer Research Laboratory Program at LHSC and Lawson. “We received 19 applications and were able to fund 11 studies with the potential to make a real impact in cancer care. We want to congratulate those selected and thank our Peer Review Panel.”
The 2023 Catalyst Grants total $269,780 in funding for the following projects:
Dr. Samuel Asfaha
Role of ALOX5+ immune cells in colitis associated cancer
Amount Funded: $25,000 (Keith Samitt Translational Cancer Research Grant, Undesignated)
Dr. Richard Kim
Organic Anion Transporter SLC22A7 is a Major Determinant of 5-Flourouracil Disposition
Amount Funded: $25,000 (Translational Breast Cancer Research Grant)
Dr. Paula Foster, Co-Applicant: Dr. Armen Parsyan
Development of MPI Lymphography
Amount Funded: $24,900 (Translational Cancer Metastasis Research focus)
Dr. Matthew Hebb, Co-Applicants: Dr. Susanne Schmid, Dr. John Ronald, Dr. Eugene Wong
Preclinical in vivo evaluation of a novel low energy electrotherapy for glioblastoma
Amount Funded: $25,000 (Keith Samitt Translational Cancer Research Grant, Undesignated)
Dr. Mansour Haeryfar, Co-Applicants: Nicole Ilayda Wang, Xuejin (Bella) Ou
MR1-restricted T cells in ovarian cancer
Amount Funded: $25,000 (Translational Immuno-oncology Research Grant)
Dr. Lina Dagnino
Mechanical signalling in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Amount Funded: $25,000 (Keith Samitt Translational Cancer Research Grant, Undesignated)
Dr. John Di Guglielmo
Assessing TGFβ pathway specificity in PDAC organoid EMT
Amount Funded: $25,000 (Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research Grant)
Dr. Fred Dick
Targeting epithelial to mesenchymal transition in ovarian cancer
Amount Funded: $25,000 (Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Grant)
Dr. Eugene Wong, Co-Applicants: Dr. Emilie Jaune-Pons, Dr. Timothy Nguyen
The role of Cancer Associated Fibroblasts in Pancreatic Cancer Radiation Resistance
Amount Funded: $25,000 (Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research Grant)
Dr. Donna Murrell, Co-Applicants: Dr. Lucas Mendez, Dr. Douglas Hoover, Dr. Sherif Ramadan
Design, development, and evaluation of a training simulator for gynecological brachytherapy
Amount Funded: $19,655 (Keith Samitt Translational Cancer Research Grant, Undesignated)
Dr. Saman Maleki, Co-Applicant: Megan M Y Hong
The effect of mismatch repair deficiency in tumours on dendritic cell activation and function
Amount Funded: $25,000 (Translational Immuno-oncology Research Grant)
This funding is made possible through the London Health Sciences Foundation and generous support of Mr. Keith Samitt, Breast Cancer Canada, The London Run for Ovarian Cancer, The Baker Centre for Pancreatic Cancer and other community and regional donors.
